Steve is under the weather. This column first appeared April 7, 2010.
Butler’s dream season and run for the NCAA championship has harkened back to the legendary 1954 Milan Miracle when the Little Giants won the State Basketball Championship with Bobby Plump and the rest of the Milan immortals. Bobby has been on National TV and all over the Internet. The references to the plot of the film “Hoosiers” and how the Butler Bulldogs in real life compare to the Hickory Huskers in reel life has been the subject of blogs and sports commentary for the past two weeks.
It seems hard to be believe that “Hoosiers” was shot in Indiana and Indianapolis nearly a quarter of a century ago. It’s even harder for me to realize that my first big screen role, that of “fan in Row ZZZ, Seat 22, Section 300,” still holds up today. A recent poll of film fans named “Hoosiers” the greatest sports film ever made and a film critics poll called it the fourth best sports film in movie history.
I arrived at Hinkle Field House on the second night of filming. I had heard that the production crew had a hard time getting enough people to fill the field house seats and make it look authentic on the first night. Obviously an actor of my stature was required to save the day. A trip to the sign-in table confirmed this. I was told that if I agreed to shave my beard off and get an Alfalfa in Our Gang style hair cut that I would be allowed to sit in the floor level seats. I asked them if I could just shave my mustache off and be Amish but they said no. I would not compromise my art, however, so my look remained the same. An assistant producer came up and told me that they did have a special role just for me, that of “fan in Row ZZZ, Seat 22, Section 300” a pivotal role in the course of the action. I signed the sheet and went about learning my dialog. YEAAAAHHHHH!!!!! and HOOOORAYYYYYY!!!!! I whispered to myself as I tried to explore my role motivation.
I wandered out of the arena to a side lobby and to my amazement, there stood Gene Hackman! He was standing next to a closed concession stand window, about 30 yards away. What a heaven sent opportunity — for Gene! At last, he could be coached by someone who knew acting and knew the Hoosier persona. I would assure him that I would be there to help him work through the scene. He could depend on me to pick up his dropped cues and ad lib through forgotten dialog, if necessary! We might become best friends and do other movie projects together as a screen team.
I stared trotting towards Gene. I could tell he wanted to talk to me and needed my advice. Don’t worry Gene, I’m here at last. I’ll save you! I got about twenty yards away, when a crowd came spilling into the lobby. I could briefly see the top of his head as at least 150 people came between, then . . . nothing!
Several of the film crew and security people came out to announce that we were all to report to our places so scene shooting could begin. I climbed to the outer stratosphere of Hinkle Field House to Row ZZZ, Seat 22, Section 300 so I could be ready for my scene. I’m proud to say that I remembered my lines, and when the second unit guy came up to my area and yelled through the bullhorn that my fellow actors needed to show more excitement and jump, yell, and clap more, I just told everyone around me to follow my lead. They were all grateful that I was there as I demonstrated the proper way to jump, yell, and clap!
The proof of my efforts is on screen. I have already stated the accolades that “Hoosiers” has acquired. It was honored with several Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations. It is a great film that, along with “Breaking Away” made it cool to be a Hoosier. As for the scenes that I shared with Gene, Dennis, Barbara, Sheb and the rest, they are among the most exciting and epic in screen history. The next time you are at Hinkle Fieldhouse go into the arena and look into the far top corner at Row ZZZ, Seat 22, Section 300. And you will say to yourself ”Man, that guy IS one heck of an actor!